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According to a report by Gieschen Consultancy, $8.5 million worth of counterfeited food and alcohol products were seized worldwide during the first half of 2005. (1)

The amount of fake food and drinks entering into the European Union grew by 200% in 2004, with fakes of Coca Cola, Nestle and Spirits Products accounting for 13% of all seizures respectively.  AS Kalev fakes accounted for another 6% and counterfeit champagne, Knorr and Brugal products comprised 4% of fakes each. In terms of the volume of items seized, Lipton products accounting for 67%, Spirits Products International for another 21%, Coca Cola for 5%, Knorr for 2% and Pepsi for 1%. In terms of origin, Russia accounted for about 13%, the Ukraine for 13%, the Dominican Republic for 9%, Nigeria for another 9%, the US for 6%, Hungary for 4% and Argentina for 4%. (2)

According to Vladimir Blank, chairman of the economical development committee from Saint Petersburg Administration,"about 30% of all the sold alcohol in Saint Petersburg is counterfeit." (3)

Examples:

In 2000, five criminals involved in Britain's biggest counterfeit food racket, including a three year operation involving the distribution of huge amounts of unfit poultry, were convicted and given sentences ranging from three - seven years. (4)

Illicitvodka containing methyl alcohol killed 60 people in Estonia in 2001.(5)

Approximately 308 tons of toxic counterfeit rice was seized in South Chinas' Guangdong Province in 2001. The mouldy rice containedhigh levels of the carcinogen aflatoxin B1 and had been bleached, polished and had mineral oil and other substances added to it.  (6)

In 2002, counterfeit Johnnie Walker Black Label whisky containing very high levels of methanol (three out of five bottles had a methanol presence of 4.3%) was found on sale in London. (7)

In 2004, 13 babies die and as many as 200 babies suffer from acute malnutrition after being fed fake infant formula in China. According to statistics provided by the Fuyang Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, 97% of the fake infant formula failed to reach the minimum 10% national standard of protein content for infant milk powder. Some contained less than 1% protein. (8)